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Thread: Owning a td5 Defender in the bush?

  1. 24th August 2013, 03:49 PM #1
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    elevators
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    Owning a td5 Defender in the bush?

    How does the expense and frequency of maintenance for a Defender compare with something like a Hilux, Land Cruiser or Patrol. Has anyone owned a Defender and one of these other vehicles?

    Im going to be living in Western Qld for the next 18 months. My heart says Defender, but my brain says Hilux. I suppose the availability of parts in that part of the world has made me think twice.

    Any input would be most appreciated.
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  2. 24th August 2013, 04:12 PM #2
    2stroke Guest
    If you can fix your defender your self places like MR Automotive or FWD can send you parts but the average Repco etc is little help in my experience... and the average mechanic outside any CBD, well its the old NT rule, not today, not tomorrow, not tuesday not thursday, Not unless it's Toyota.
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  3. 24th August 2013, 04:20 PM #3
    MR LR
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    My brain would say 70 series cruiser, not Hilux...

    In reality I'd probably have a chopped Disco or Deefer.

    Cheers
    Will
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  4. 24th August 2013, 04:42 PM #4
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    are you talking new or used, New hi-luxes are crap , if buying used get a live axle job. Ford Ranger would be the go, or as already mentioned 70 series .

    Landrover only if you are good on the tools.
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  5. 24th August 2013, 06:44 PM #5
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    NT5224
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    Hi there

    I have owned both Hilux and Land Cruiser utes before my Puma Land Rover. I now live in the Top End of the Territory but previously in North West Queensland (Mount Isa).

    Of course, Tojo dominates the outback, not in small part because of the dealer support network they offer. If you were considering a Puma Land Rover I would say you might get support through Ford dealerships, but the TD5 is a uniquely Land Rover motor.

    My (admittedly brand new) Puma has caused me far fewer problems than my Tojo did at the same stage of its life. And Land Rover service in Darwin (Hyundai Prestige motors) has been a dream compared with Toyota in Mount Isa.

    I've never driven a TD5, but reckon the Puma tops the performance of the Tojo. It drives tracks on my property that the Land Cruiser can't make.

    In my particular experience I found my old 97 Hilux more reliable than the 2005 Landcruiser, and simpler to maintain. Agreeing with Going Bush, go for the older live axle models, pretty much unkillable, spares always available.

    There''s a guy on this forum who's based out at Cloncurrry with Puma and he was also asking about mechanical services. Maybe get in touch with him for his experiences.

    Cheers

    Alan
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  6. 24th August 2013, 06:44 PM #6
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    Being on this forum, I have to say Land Rover all day long!!!! As said before tho, forget the Lux, live axles are the way to go. Also as said before, if you are good on the tools, and are happy to carry a few of the 'usual' spares, then a Defer would be great. Start with a clean well maintained late Td5 where any of the niggles have been ironed out, but if you want ease then a Yota Cruiser is the go...
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  7. 24th August 2013, 06:48 PM #7
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    No issues, just keep out of deep water, and ensure good maintenance by people that know what they are doing.

    Life is too short to be a sheep and buy a Toymota or Nissing.

    JC
    The Isuzu 110. Solid and as dependable as a rock, coming soon with auto box😊
    The Range Rover L322 4.4.TTDV8 ....probably won't bother with the remap..😈
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  8. 24th August 2013, 06:58 PM #8
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    I live in a relatively isolated area and have a TD5 Defender, I have no desire to start a Land Rover vs Toyota discussion but neither Toyota's nor their parts network are as good as people would have you believe.

    The TD5 once sorted is pretty simple they have their known weaknesses and like any vehicle if you plan around these you should be right.
    My nearest competent Land Rover mechanic is 1100 km away if you have any mechanical know how you should be right but get yourself a diagnostic computer of some description.

    Parts are readily available and not particularly expensive the lesson here is to buy good quality parts not cheap crap.
    If we had a decent freight system in Australia it would be much better I can get parts from either the USA or the UK quicker in some cases than something from the eastern states.
    I tend to keep a stock of my own parts so don't have to fret about it too much.
    As others have said the new Hiluxes are a bit weak in the front end so be careful.
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